System and method for energy and assets saving and for improving ownership and sustainability awareness

Abstract

A method includes linking an owner to an electronic asset using an owner profile. The electronic asset may be coupled to a server through a network. A usage of the electronic asset may be monitored using an activities agent installed on the electronic asset and the agent may monitor a power mode of the electronic asset and usage statistics. A policy may be defined at the server including a first inactivity condition that, when satisfied by the usage statistics of the electronic asset, results in a first alert being generated by the agent indicating inactivity of the electronic asset. The policy may be communicated from the server to the agent, and the agent may determine whether the inactivity condition is satisfied by comparing the usage statistics against the first inactivity condition. When the first inactivity condition is satisfied, the alert may be received at the server from the first agent.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for centralized power management, comprising:
 linking an owner to an electronic asset using an owner profile stored in a memory, the electronic asset coupled to a server through a network; 
 receiving usage statistics and a power mode of the electronic asset from an activities agent installed on the electronic asset, wherein the usage statistics indicate whether the electronic asset is performing an action; 
 at the server, defining a policy comprising a first inactivity condition that, when satisfied by the usage statistics of the electronic asset, results in a first alert being received by the server from the agent, indicating inactivity of the electronic asset, the policy further comprising a first power management activity to be initiated at the electronic asset when the first inactivity condition is satisfied; 
 communicating the policy from the server to the agent; 
 determining whether the server or the agent is responsible to initiate power management activities based on a control mode; 
 determining whether the first inactivity condition is satisfied by comparing the usage statistics against the first inactivity condition; 
 in response to determining that the first inactivity condition is satisfied and that the server is responsible to initiate power management activities, initiating, by the server, the first power management activity at the electronic asset; 
 recording, at the server, the first alert in a collection of alerts received from the agent; 
 determining, at the server, based on a number of alerts indicating inactivity of the electronic asset in the collection of alerts, that the electronic asset is being inefficiently used and in response, providing a notification that the electronic asset is being inefficiently used; and 
 returning the electronic asset to a pool of available resources. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first power management activity comprises lowering the power mode of the electronic asset. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the policy further comprises a second inactivity condition that, when satisfied by the usage statistics of the electronic asset, results in a second power management activity being initiated after the first power management activity, and further comprising:
 receiving at the server a second alert from the agent when the second power management activity is initiated, the second alert indicating the initiation of the second power management activity; and 
 communicating the second alert to the owner. 
 
 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 requesting permission from the owner to initiate the first power management activity before initiating the first power management activity at the electronic asset; and 
 waiting to receive instructions from the owner before initiating the first power management activity at the electronic asset. 
 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, issuing a workflow order notifying a user to disconnect the electronic asset if it is determined that the electronic asset is being inefficiently used. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the action comprises a user-initiated action; 
 the inactivity condition comprises a duration of inactive time elapsed since the electronic asset last performed the user-initiated action; and 
 the first alert indicates a duration of inactive time elapsed since the electronic asset last performed the user-initiated action, and further comprising communicating the first alert to the owner. 
 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein defining the policy comprises enabling a user to define the policy. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 reporting a current power mode of the electronic asset to a user through a web page; 
 enabling the user to input an instruction to change the current power mode of the electronic asset; and 
 instructing the agent to change the current power mode of the electronic asset in accordance with the instruction when the instruction is received. 
 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic asset comprises one of a plurality of electronic assets linked to the owner using the owner profile and coupled to the server through the network. 
     
     
       10. A centralized system for power management, comprising:
 a server operable to:
 link an owner to an electronic asset using an owner profile stored in a memory, the electronic asset coupled to the server through a network; 
 receive usage statistics and a power mode of the electronic asset from an activities agent installed on the electronic asset, wherein the usage statistics indicate whether the electronic asset is performing an action; 
 define a policy comprising a first inactivity condition that, when satisfied by the usage statistics of the electronic asset, results in a first alert being received by the server from the agent, indicating inactivity of the electronic asset, the policy further comprising a first power management activity to be initiated at the electronic asset when the first inactivity condition is satisfied; 
 communicate the policy to the agent; 
 determine whether the server or the agent is responsible to initiate power management activities based on a control mode; 
 determine whether the first inactivity condition is satisfied by comparing the usage statistics against the first inactivity condition; 
 receive the first alert from the agent when the first inactivity condition is satisfied; 
 in response to determining that the inactivity condition is satisfied and that the server is responsible to initiate power management activities, initiate the first power management activity at the electronic asset; 
 record the first alert in a collection of alerts in the memory; 
 determine, based on a number of alerts indicating inactivity of the electronic asset in the collection of alerts, that the electronic asset is being inefficiently used and in response, provide a notification that the electronic asset is being inefficiently used; and 
 return the electronic asset to a pool of available resources. 
 
 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the policy further comprises a second inactivity condition that, when satisfied by the usage statistics of the electronic asset, results in a second power management activity being initiated; and 
 the server is further operable to:
 receive a second alert from the agent when the second power management activity is initiated by the agent after the first power management activity, the second alert indicating the initiation of the second power management activity; and 
 communicate the second alert to the owner. 
 
 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the server is further operable to;
 request permission from the owner to initiate the first power management activity before initiating the first power management activity at the electronic asset; and 
 wait to receive instructions from the owner before initiating the first power management activity at the electronic asset. 
 
 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the server is further operable to:
 issue a workflow order notifying a user to disconnect the electronic asset if the server determines that the electronic asset is being inefficiently used. 
 
 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 10 , wherein the server is further operable to define the policy by enabling a user to define the policy. 
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 10 , further comprising a web interface operable to report a current power mode of the electronic asset to a user through a web page; and wherein the server is further operable to:
 receive an instruction from the user to change the current power mode of the electronic asset; and 
 instruct the agent to change the current power mode of the electronic asset in accordance with the instruction. 
 
     
     
       16. Logic encoded in a tangible computer readable media, a computer including one or more processors and a memory operable when executed the logic to:
 link an owner to an electronic asset using an owner profile stored in a memory, the electronic asset coupled to a computer through a network; 
 receive usage statistics and a power mode of the electronic asset from an activities agent installed on the electronic asset, wherein the usage statistics indicate whether the electronic asset is performing an action; 
 define a policy comprising a first inactivity condition that, when satisfied by the usage statistics of the electronic asset, results in a first alert being received by the server from the agent, indicating inactivity of the electronic asset, the policy further comprising a first power management activity to be initiated at the electronic asset when the first inactivity condition is satisfied; 
 communicate the policy to the agent; 
 determine whether the server or the agent is responsible to initiate power management activities based on a control mode; 
 receive the first alert from the agent when the first inactivity condition is satisfied; 
 in response to determining whether the inactivity condition is satisfied and that the server is responsible to initiate power management activities, initiate the first power management activity at the electronic asset; 
 record the first alert in a collection of alerts received from the agent in the memory; 
 determine, based on a number of alerts indicating inactivity of the electronic asset in the collection of alerts, that the electronic asset is being inefficiently used and in response, provide a notification that the electronic asset is being inefficiently used; and 
 return the electronic asset to a pool of available resources. 
 
     
     
       17. The logic of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the policy further comprises a second inactivity condition that, when satisfied by the usage statistics of the electronic asset, results in a second power management activity being initiated after the first power management activity; 
 the computer is further operable to:
 receive a second alert from the agent when the second power management activity is initiated, the second alert indicating the initiation of the second power management activity; and 
 communicate the power management notification to the owner.